Wanted: Silicon
By: Joyce Huang
Wanted for
- Used in: water sealent, computer chips, solar cells, glass, sand, creamics, human skeletons.
- Why is it important: It is the seventh most abundant element in the universe, and the second most abundant element on Earth.
- Crimes: Has been caught mixed with oxygen to make SiO2 which is used in many different things, including sand.
Aliases
- Chemical symbol: Si
- Also known as: Acide Orthosilicique, Dioxyde de Silicium, Orthosilicic Acid, Phytolithic Silica, Polysilicone-11, Si, Silica, Silica Hydride, Silice Hydride, Silicea, Silicio, Silicium, Silicium de Sodium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Silicate.
- Named after Latin root "silex" meaning flint
- Common names: silica, silicone dioxide
Description
- Color: Grey in solid, room temp form
- Atomic mass: 28.0855
- Atomic number: 14
- metalloid
- Solid at room temp.
- Looks glassy and is mostly transparent and translusent.
- Melting point: 1410 degrees Celsius.
- Boiling point: 2355 degrees Celsius.
- Carbon group
First arresting
Silicon was first found in 1823 by Jons Berzeius. He was a Swedish scientist living in Sweden. Jons Berzeius was born in 1779 and died in 1848 in Sweden. He was a famous chemist and worked hard throughout his life time and found many elements including selenium, cerium, thorium, silicon, and several other elements.
Report of first arrest
Silicon was first discovered in 1823 by Jons Berzeius. He found it by heating chips of potassium in a silica container and then carefully washing away the residual by-products.
Last seen
The silicon element is number 14 on the periodic table. Its atomic mass is 28.0855.
Known Associates
Though silicon(Si) is very stable, if it is mixed with oxygen(O2), silicon dioxide(SiO2) is formed. Silicon mixed with nitrogen(N2) makes 2SiN. Silicon mixed with 2N2 makes Si3N4.
Warning Label
Though silicon is a very stable element, if one breathes it in to much, in a powder form, one will develop respiratory problems, and may cause cancer.
Bibliography
http://www.chem4kids.com/files/elements/014_speak.html - online
Silicon. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print. -book
www.chemicalelements.com - pic of atom
www.buzzle.com - pic of element symbol
pcwallart.com- pic of sand